HC Deb 31 January 1989 vol 146 cc160-1W
13. Mr. Leigh

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the standards of primary and secondary schools in rural areas.

Mr. Butcher

Responsibility for educational provision in maintained primary and secondary schools in rural as well as in other areas rests with local education authorities. My right hon. Friend is supporting through education support grant some £1.5 million of expenditure per annum on pilot projects in 14 LEAs with a view to improving the quality and range of the curriculum in rural primary schools.